Fabricated baseplate for electrical installations

ABSTRACT

A fabricated baseplate for electrical installations comprising a continuous insulative plastic device placed adjacent a floor of any room for insertion of any inlet plug of an appliance at any position in a room. The device has three parallel frontal indentations with each indentation containing a continuous necked electrical contact strip installed during the extrusion of the device. A support bracket is installed along a wall proximate the floor for positioning and securing the device which has cooperating protuberances in a rear cavity of the cove portion. The device also has a bottom trough for installation of any electrical cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to electrical outlets.More specifically, the invention is a continuous wall bracket supportedelectrical outlet installed proximate the floor and around a room.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The related art of interest describes various electrical outlets,but none discloses the structure of the present invention. There is aneed for a continuous and safe electrical floor outlet which can beinstalled in new or old buildings. The following patents are consideredrelated art.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,464,964 issued on Mar. 22, 1949, to Norman N.Charap describes a selective station outlet molding running along thewall length adjacent to the baseboard comprising an extruded plasticcore covered by a U-shaped plastic hood having internal and externallongitudinal grooves of weakness. The core is E-shaped in cross-sectioncontaining a pair of brass or copper bus bars with turned in flangeswhich slide into undercut beads. The hood becomes part of the baseboard.The installer on the job makes openings in the internal and externallongitudinal grooves according to his “selective powers”. The cornersare negotiated by the bus bars by adding an L-shaped connection. Thesystem is distinguishable for requiring the electrician to open thepreferred locations in the outlet molding for enabling an electricalplug with two contacts to contact the bus bars.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,284 issued on Jan. 6, 1981, to MichaelHumphreys describes an electrical distribution system with a hollowconduit having a continuous slot for the wall plug which must be rotatedto bring its contact pins into contact with the conductors.

[0007] U.S. Reissue Pat. No. Re. 36,030 issued on Jan. 5, 1999, and U.S.Pat. No. 5,306,165 issued on Apr. 26, 1994, to Jacques Nadeau describesan electrical distributing system with wall mounted tracks containingelectrical outlets and communication lines. The tracks are slidinglyreceived in connecting slots of electrical connector housings to connectthe tracks to electrical outlets, or to interconnect sections of trackstogether.

[0008] U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 355,161 issued on Feb. 7, 1995, to Larry J.Bodnar describes a combined electrical outlet and outlet holdercomprising an outlet with a pair of prong contacts, a longitudinalholder with two longitudinal apertures, and a U-shaped wall bracket tosecure the holder.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,283,398 issued on May 19, 1942, to Harry R. VanDerventer describes an electric circuit molding made of rubber which maybe tapped at any point comprising two longitudinal slots which arenormally closed but have deformable edges for tapping. A channeled metalsupport holds the electric molding and covers the pre-existing floormolding. Phosphor-bronze conductor strips with in-turned edges areinserted in each of the two slots in the rubber circuit molding.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 2,441,461 issued on May 11, 1948, to Anthony Waynedescribes an electric utility connection moulding comprising a U-shapedplastic moulding having an inner filler strip to define two longitudinalrecesses for incorporating a pair of resilient tubular contacts.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,171 issued on Jan. 15, 1974, to Jerry P.Shira describes an integral hinged wiring raceway.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,937 issued on Oct. 1, 1991, to Bryan D. Glendescribes a baseboard with a movable electrical outlet slid along atrack.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,860 issued on Jul. 21, 1992, and U.S. Pat.No. 5,203,711 issued on Apr. 20, 1993, to Steven B. Bogiel describes amodular interchangeable power distribution system for electrification ofmodular wall panels.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,097 issued on Aug. 9, 1994, to Lawrence J.Williamson, Jr. et al. describes a modular electrical power distributionsystem comprising with an elongate track and a plurality of power tapassemblies that are engageable with the track.

[0015] U.K. Patent Application No. 517,318 published on Jan. 26, 1940,for Drury N. Davies et al. describes a plastic hollow duct having two ormore spaced conductor members, and has a slot or openings between theminto which a plug can be inserted along with an earth contact.

[0016] U.K. Patent Application No. 2 067 363 A published on Jul. 22,1981, for Akihiro Suzue et al. describes an electric power supply trackwith upper and central buffer spaces for encasing a pair of conductorsfor an electric power supply for a plug-in socket and for wiring cables.

[0017] U.K. Patent Application No. 2 149 230 A published on Jun. 5,1985, for John I. Hankin describes an electrical track distributionsystem comprising an elongate box panel with a longitudinal aperturedefining lips of differing thickness, and with electrical conductors onthe inwardly facing lip surface. An earth conductor is located on backinner surface of the panel.

[0018] E.P.O. Patent Application No. 0 428 055 A2 published on May 22,1991, for Eero Pajunen describes a conductor rail having variouscross-sectional configurations ranging from a U-shaped rail to circularwith or without a cover. A plurality of conductors are inset inlongitudinal insulator grooves. Various configurations of insulatorstructures are described.

[0019] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularlyor in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.Thus, a fabricated continuous baseplate for electrical installationssolving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention is directed to a continuous baseboardelectrical outlet which can be installed during initial construction, orafter as a retrofit. There is a need for this device for providing theplacement of electrical appliances at any point in a room without beingrestricted to actual spaced outlets and an inadequate number to supportthe appliances required for a specific room, be it a bedroom, kitchen,living room, hallway, etc. The universal outlet is safe from curiouschildren, but allows placement of an electrical appliance anywhere in aroom at any time. The baseboard electrical outlet has a support bracketfor the wall, continuous embedded electrical contacts along the lengthof the electrical device to allow a user to install an electrical pluginto the outlet at any point along the length of the outlet, and a ductfor communication cables. This extruded base plate wall outlet devicecan be substituted for any existing electrical base plate.

[0021] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to providea safe, continuous, electrical plug outlet for any room, hallway and thelike.

[0022] It is another object of the invention to provide a continuouselectrical plug outlet as a baseboard and a substitute for existingelectrical base plate outlets.

[0023] It is a further object of the invention to provide a continuouselectrical baseboard plug outlet which is extruded and has continuousembedded electrical contacts.

[0024] Still another object of the invention is to provide a continuouselectrical baseboard plug outlet which has a duct for communicationcables such as telephone and cable television wires.

[0025] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0026] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a partial, environmental, perspective view of a roomcorner having a continuous fabricated baseplate for electricalinstallations installed with an exemplary electrical plug for anappliance inserted according to the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the outlet withits support bracket, fastener, and an included electrical cable.

[0029] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] The present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is directed toa fabricated electrical baseplate outlet device 10 for electricalinstallations along the wall 12 of a room 14 adjacent the floor 16.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 comprises an extruded extensivelength of an insulative plastic baseplate having three continuousparallel indentations 18 exposed in its front portion along its entirelength. Each indentation 18 has a continuous electrical contact strip 20in its innermost region for insertion of an electrical inlet plug andwire 22 (FIG. 1) of an appliance (not shown) for a source ofelectricity. The plug portion 22 may have either a ground electrode ornot.

[0032] As depicted in an enlarged version with an open end in FIG. 2,the device 10 has a continuous coping 24 having a rear open cavity 26with a top wall 28 and a bottom wall 30. The cavity 26 is continuous,linear, and has a pair of parallel aligned protuberances or keys 32 onits top and bottom walls 28, 30, respectively.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular plastic block 34 has linearaligned slots or keyways 36 conforming to include by friction fit thetwo protuberances or keys 32 in the cavity 26 for securing the device 10along the wall 12 on the floor 16. The block 34 has an aperture 38aligned with its horizontal axis for fastening the block 34 to the wall12.

[0034] The device 10 has a continuous trough 38 in its bottom portionwith a continuous rear opening 40 for insertion of one or moreelectrical cables 42. The device 10 is attached to walls 12 adjacent thefloor 16 by fasteners 44 inserted through apertures 46 made during theinstallation in the front portion of the device 10 in the region of thecontinuous rear opening 40 in the trough 38.

[0035] The three continuous electrical contact strips 20 are U-shapedbrass strips embedded in the indentations 18 during extrusion of thedevice 10. This construction adds to the stability of the contact strips20 in the device 10 to withstand the frequent insertion and withdrawalof the inlet contact plugs 22 over a prolonged period of use. TheU-shaped brass strips 20 have a pair of aligned, parallel, narrow, andlongitudinal protrusions 48 for securely gripping the electrodes of eachplug 22 inserted in the device 10.

[0036] Thus, an economical and ergonomic electrical baseplate device 10has been shown which would eliminate the problem of placing electricalappliances at restricted specific baseboard outlets in a room, hallwayand the like, when building or installing as a retrofitting device in adwelling.

[0037] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A fabricated baseplate outlet device for electricalinstallations comprising: an extruded extensive length of an insulativebaseplate having three continuous parallel indentations exposed in itsfront portion and length; and said indentations having in each acontinuous electrical contact in its innermost region; whereby anelectrical inlet plug of an appliance can be inserted in the baseplatefor a source of electricity.
 2. The baseplate outlet device according toclaim 1, wherein the device has a continuous coping, there further beingdefined a rear open cavity with top and bottom walls.
 3. The baseplateoutlet device according to claim 2, wherein said cavity has continuouslinear and parallel keys on its top and bottom walls.
 4. The baseplateoutlet device according to claim 3, further comprising a rectangularplastic block having linear slots conforming to include the keys in saidcavity for securing the device along a wall on the floor.
 5. Thebaseplate outlet device according to claim 4, wherein said block has anaperture aligned with its horizontal axis for fastening said block tothe wall.
 6. The baseplate outlet device according to claim 1, whereinthe device has a continuous trough in its bottom portion.
 7. Thebaseplate outlet device according to claim 6, wherein said trough has acontinuous opening in its rear portion for insertion of electricalcables.
 8. The baseplate outlet device according to claim 7, whereinsaid device is attached to walls adjacent a floor by fasteners insertedthrough a front portion of the device in the region of the continuousrear opening in the trough.
 9. The baseplate outlet device according toclaim 1, wherein the continuous electrical contacts are U-shaped brassstrips embedded in said indentations during extrusion of the device. 10.The baseplate outlet device according to claim 9, wherein said U-shapedbrass strips have a pair of aligned, parallel, narrow, and longitudinalprotrusions for gripping electrodes of each plug inserted in saiddevice.
 11. The baseplate outlet device according to claim 1, whereinsaid insulative baseplate is made of plastic.